Die Chips. What Are They? Are There Different Types?

Die chips. What are they? Are there different types?

Probably everyone knows about these if you been on the forum long. But they are fairly common to find. I always explain them because to me they often look like some ones gum they spit out, and stuck it to a device on the coins. They are raised on the coin. So they are incuse on the die. Why do you think they are called die chips. Because the die chips on an certain areas. Sometimes they are often found in the same areas. The bee's nest if one they call it. The die chips on the columns of the Memorial cents.

But die chips can be found in two different places. Mostly on the fields. As the edge of a device has been struck many times, we can see that they are next to a device. The edge just chips away a little bit. Often when this starts, the die has some age on it and is starting to break down. Or the die was polished a lot and the fields are getting thinner and the strength of the die is compromised. These are the most common die chips to spot, because they are next to the fields.

But another type of die chip is the internal die chips. Now your probably wondering what kind of new revelation is he going to share with us now? But you've already see them. They are internal because they are on, the deeper devices. The bumps on Roosevelt's face is one area. The wheat cents will develop die chips on the wheat grains or the lines on the wheat reverses those are internal. On the wheat cents when the die is continued to used after a crack, then a chip. the die can show one of the best examples of die breaks on this area of the coin. Why does is it called a die break? Because it crack breaks deeper in to the die. The chipping we see on a crack, continues to get larger as the die breaks deeper. The more the die falls apart, the breaks continues to expand. Then eventually it becomes a Cud and then the die will be retired. But another area we can find die chips is on the head, Memorial columns and the shield cents border at the top of the shield. (I'm sure there more, just not remembering right now)

But I went through the site today, and borrowed a few images everyone has been posting lately. I have 80 images for you to look at. But they are only in 4 panels.




Thanks for the use of the images. Sorry I didn't put the names on the images. But they were great.

We have been having a lot of new ones on the forum daily. So this thread may help to progress. I've really appreciated everyone covering bases when others are not here. We can make the difference. Why? Because we care. You can see it in every comment. So keep up the great work everyone.